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Alternate Marine Dollies & Stands: Pro Tips for Owning PWCs

Posted on April 24, 2016

If you own a personal watercraft, or PWC as they are commonly called, it is important to take good are of it whether you are in or out of the water. Brownell carries a wide range of boat dollies, including alternate marine dollies with adjustable trailer pads, that are designed for use with PWCs. Having top quality boat stands for storage and maintenance, as well as boat dollies and other transportation gear to get your PWC to and from the water, helps you to protect your investment and maximize the amount of use you will get out of your vessel throughout its lifetime.

In addition to transportation with alternate marine dollies, the proper use of adjustable trailer pads, and top quality boat stands, it is also important to maintain and learn how to get the most our of your PWC. When out on the water, it pays to know some basic skills that you can use to your advantage. These skills will help you to have more fun and be able to do more things, while you are out and enjoying your PWC. Some tips are regarding safe use of your PWCs while out on the water, while others are more about learning how to drive the heck out of your personal watercraft.

Tips to Maximize PWC Fun
If you want to get more out of the season with your PWC, make sure to take the following tips to heart. Owning a PWC is all about having fun, exploring and adventure while out on the water, so why not expand your horizons and try something new. These tips are designed to help you get the most out of your equipment so you have as much fun as possible.

Move Your Body – A lot of people think that because there is a seat on their PWC that they have to sit still and stay put. The truth is that you will have more control and be able to do more if you learn to move around and shift your weight from one side to the other. In most crafts, inside leans are better than outside leans. Experiment by going slowly and aim to keep the hull hooked down to the water while you make turns and go around obstacles. You can also stand up and get your body up off the seat, especially during a particularly rough ride.

Learn Your PWC – Take time to learn the way that your PWC handles when out on the water. Some models will lean better inside or outside than others, while some may not react well to a lot of movement. If they are adjustable, make sure to adjust your sponsons accordingly, making them lower for severe handling or higher for an easier ride. If you have adjustable trim tabs on your PWC, you can use them to give you an advantage in the handling of the craft.

Plant the Bow – Learn how to plant the bow when you anticipate a turn for better steering and handling. For example, as you approach a turn, let off the throttle for just a second so you can plant the bow. Then quickly get back on the throttle so you can power through the turn. What happens is that you are able to turn faster and more smoothly if you get more of the hull of the PWC into the water than out. This maneuver is also known as chopping the bow.

How to Stop – You really need to know how to stop your PWC so you can avoid obstacles or accidents while out on the water. Unless you have one of the very few models that have brakes or the ability to stop, you will need to learn how to slow down and stop by turning around. Most types of PWC will need a minimum of a couple hundred feet to come to a full and complete stop after throttling at high speed. You definitely want to practice this before getting into a situation where not knowing how to stop in time could be dangerous.

Having the Right Gear
In addition to using top quality boat stands for storing and maintaining your personal watercraft, you also need to have safety gear, such as life jackets, and emergency items in case you get stuck out on the water. You should also protect the hull of your PWC by using adjustable trailer pads and alternate marine dollies from the Brownell Boat Stand System, which are much more superior than other brands and styles. Give us a call at 508-758-3671 to find an authorized Brownell Boat Stand System dealer near you or use our website to find the boat stands, pads, boat dollies, trailers and other products you need to take care of your personal watercraft.